Traditional trait-based offender profiling relies on two key assumptions: (1) that there is behavioral consistency in they way offenders commit offenses and (2) that background characteristics of the offender correspond with the manner in which an offense is committed. While the first assumption has been more readily shown to be empirically correct, the second assumption has been criticized as relying too heavily on “naïve trait theories of personality.” Indeed, the author offers a critical view of the psychological profiling of offenders that offers little more than a generation of demographic characteristics of offenders. Psychological and behavioral profilers can be helpful in the apprehension of offenders, however, as they hone their science. The author presents a study by Whyte of apprehension methods of serial killers which reveals that offenders are rarely apprehended through one method. Apprehension of offenders generally involves the co-occurrence of several apprehension variables in various combinations and degrees. Detective work was the most frequent method of securing apprehension, followed by variables associated with evidence taken from the victim. One of the core apprehension factors in the study involved knowledge of suspects gathered through previous criminal records of possible suspects. This finding underscores the importance of keeping accurate, timely, and informative criminal records. While vast improvements have occurred in police investigative practices over the past 10 years in the United Kingdom, there remains a notable shortage of experienced, investigative specialists. The author urges young officers to continue making improvements in psychological and behavioral offender profiling. Notes, references